Current Events

VPK

* Fair enough on your opinion of the borders of Greater Iran.

* To be clear, the notion of nationhood based on faith isn't my notion, but offered as a plausible reason the government of Iran holds the views it does on Israel's treatment of the Palestinians.  (Ironically, faith-based notions of nationhood also abound in Israel: It's not uncommon to hear it described as a "Jewish State" in the religious sense of that phrase; Armenia is also sometimes described as a "Christian State.") 

*  My last point, which I just copied below; in my opinion, is one of the rationales (originally a comment to JJ):

@ JJ:   The US does this too - it openly supports authoritarian regimes (e.g., Saudi Arabia) and had no issues giving the green light to the government in Bahrain (a former part of Iran) to slaughter thousands of pro-democracy protesters (and even the doctors who treated them --  rapes, executions, etc. ... they all happened).  On a per capita basis, the situation in Bahrain was probably worse because they have a smaller population.  The question in my mind has always been whether Iranian governments would take the same repressive measures (or perhaps to a lesser degree) if the U.S. and other foreign powers didn't employ double-standards; exhibit a pattern of trying to manipulate and destabilize other nations' political processes (e.g., Mosadegh); and sponsor terror/separatist groups hostile to other countries, including Iran (PMOI/PJAK/Jundallah/PanTurkism/Saddam(Arab Nationalism).  

Until people start holding the U.S. and Israel to account, the government of Iran will always have an excuse that it's playing politics according to the template it inherited at the time it came to power.  Though I don't suggest any of these things are ethical or just, it is absolutely foreseeable that it would happen. When Martin Luther King Jr. said, " Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," he was correct. The question in my mind is whether Iranians will stop take a self-centered approach about 'their problems' and look to the problems of the rest of the wolrd, and unify against foreign attempts to manipulate and destabilize Iran.  Unless and until that happens, the game (unfortunately) will continue to played exactly as it has been.      

" by Jahanshah Javid on Fri Aug 26, 2011 06:14 AM PDT Disgusting hypocritical monsters... worrying about oppression in other lands while oppressing their own people. Pretending to oppose tyranny abroad, while killing, raping, jailing, silencing critics at home. " 

BoosBoos

I have studied history and in my opinion Palestine was never part of Greater Iran. The realistic borders of Greater Iran went as far as Eastern Iraq. Mainly Ctesiphon but not that much further.

So I do not in any way consider Palestine as a part of Iran. Not by a long shot. Now if you want to base things on religion then I guess Malaysia and Senegal should be included! And what about non Muslim Iranians? Not to mention Shia vs. Sunni. I am sorry but I am not buying it. Iranian nationalism is based on culture not religion. I think IRI is just using Palestine as an excuse to deflect attention. This is pretty standard practice to redirect a discussion from one's own failure.

It used to work but has lost its appeal since the new generation does not care. They just want better life for themselves and IRI is not able to provide it.

VPK agree and disagree

" by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Fri Aug 26, 2011 09:01 AM PDT the issue is really not related to Iran. Except that IRI uses it as an excuse to divert attention from its own record. "

  @ VPK:  I agree and disagree.  Palestine is not Iran - so in one sense it's "not related to Iran" and I agree with you.  For those that see Palestine as a part of "Greater Iran" (Iran Shahr) then it may be related to Iran in some ways relating to nationalism.  I don't suspect the Iranian government sees it this way.  However, I suspect that the present Iranian government's sense of nationhood is based on faith -- Those are our "Palestinian brothers," the Iranian government might say.  This is probably the government's rationale or it might be the purely political consideration (see my comment to JJ below).     By that same token, if Palestinian human rights are not related to iran, then Iranian human rights are not related to America.  The standard has to work both ways to ensure equality.   

For a second time in one day …

I agree with RG assertion here:

"With "friends" like him, they don't need no enemies."

The injustice inflicted to Palestinian is real and their treatment by Israelis is appalling. But there cause is not helped only harmed by the hawkish and belligerent IRI interference.

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

who is he ?

he is talking from his back side

 The hypocrisy of this

 The hypocrisy of this thug is awe-inspiring. The false bravado and hubris will not go unnoticed and will be answered with real action. The basiji are definitely bunch of suicidal psychopaths.

"In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer."- Albert Camus

The Palestinian

issue is really not related to Iran. Except that IRI uses it as an excuse to divert attention from its own record. While a tragedy it was really not started nor will it end by Iran. The main players there are the West. IRI has not helped the situation but I would not go as far as to say they are the main cause of it either. We should get our own house in order. Stop oppression of Iranian people now!

Roozbeh / JJ

 @  Roozbeh: Israel has been ethnically cleansing Palestinians and annexing their land for 60 years - the present government of Iran has been in power for only 30 years.  So what you write below is not true -- the oppression of the Palestinian people was taking place in the same fashion while Khomeini lived in France and the Shah was in power; it was being planned before Khomeini was even born.   

@ JJ:   The US does this too - it openly supports authoritarian regimes (e.g., Saudi Arabia) and had no issues giving the green light to the government in Bahrain (a former part of Iran) to slaughter thousands of pro-democracy protesters (and even the doctors who treated them --  rapes, executions, etc. ... they all happened).  On a per capita basis, the situation in Bahrain was probably worse because they have a smaller population.  The question in my mind has always been whether Iranian governments would take the same repressive measures (or perhaps to a lesser degree) if the U.S. and other foreign powers didn't employ double-standards; exhibit a pattern of trying to manipulate and destabilize other nations' political processes (e.g., Mosadegh); and sponsor terror/separatist groups hostile to other countries, including Iran (PMOI/PJAK/Jundallah/PanTurkism/Saddam(Arab Nationalism).  

Until people start holding the U.S. and Israel to account, the government of Iran will always have an excuse that it's playing politics according to the template it inherited at the time it came to power.  Though I don't suggest any of these things are ethical or just, it is absolutely foreseeable that it would happen. When Martin Luther King Jr. said, " Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," he was correct. The question in my mind is whether Iranians will stop take a self-centered approach about 'their problems' and look to the problems of the rest of the wolrd, and unify against foreign attempts to manipulate and destabilize Iran.  Unless and until that happens, the game (unfortunately) will continue to played exactly as it has been.      

" by Jahanshah Javid on Fri Aug 26, 2011 06:14 AM PDT Disgusting hypocritical monsters... worrying about oppression in other lands while oppressing their own people. Pretending to oppose tyranny abroad, while killing, raping, jailing, silencing critics at home. "

Another hot air producer

Air In Tehran must be very hot and polluted. It has an easy fix just shut these morans mounths. 

Palistinian people, with "friends" like him.....

Need no enemies.

Nothing, absolutely nothing has caused the just cause of Palistinian people more damage and harm than this islamist so call "republic" of hell. 

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."

Freedom-loving monsters

Disgusting hypocritical monsters... worrying about oppression in other lands while oppressing their own people. Pretending to oppose tyranny abroad, while killing, raping, jailing, silencing critics at home.